STATEMENT: Garry McCarthy is not invited to our Mayoral forum, and not welcome in Chicago.

CHICAGO- Following is the statement of Emma Tai, Executive Director of United Working Families (UWF), on the decision to not invite former Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy to tonight's mayoral forum on Black displacement despite the cries of his paid protestors:

"Based on polling done by Change Research and a vote by our membership, we invited Toni Preckwinkle, Susana Mendoza, Amara Enyia, Paul Vallas, and Lori Lightfoot to tonight's forum. We have limited participation to five candidates in order to encourage a substantive and meaningful conversation on the defining issue of the 2019 elections--whether Chicago will be a city where working-class communities of color can thrive.

”Garry McCarthy is not invited to this forum in the strongest possible terms. We refuse to give air time to the man who covered up the police murder of LaQuan McDonald.

”From covering up the murder of an innocent Black teenager to doctoring crime statistics to accepting campaign contributions from Trump supporters, McCarthy has repeatedly demonstrated his callous disregard for Black and Latinx people.

”Garry McCarthy is a national disgrace. He is unwelcome at our forum, and unwelcome in Chicago."

###

United Working Families is an independent political organization by and for the 99%. UWF affiliate members include: Action Now, Chicago Teachers Union, Cook County College Teachers Union, Grassroots Illinois Action, SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana, Warehouse Workers Organizing Committee, People United for Action, Workers United CMRJB, 22nd Ward IPO, 25th Ward IPO, and 33rd Ward Working Families, United Electrical Workers Western Region, and Illinois Nurses Association.